Best Multiplayer Video Games, Ranked
We're addicted to video games. In 2019, PC and console gaming grew to $45 billion in revenue, outpacing 2019's world box-office revenue of $42.5 billion. That's a lot of money to spend on games. And like movies, games are better with friends.
There are a ton of co-op and player-versus-player (PvP) games. Some are brand new or lesser-known indie games. Others are tried-and-true favorites and blockbuster hits that have raked in billions of dollars.
Whether you're looking for multiplayer games on PC, Mac, Nintendo Switch, PS4, Linux or XBox One, there's something for everyone. These are the 50 best multiplayer games.
50. Battlefield V
Developer: EA DICE
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PS4, Xbox One
Genre: First-person shooter, battle royale
Type of multiplayer: PvP
Price: $39.99
Bottom Line: Battlefield V
"Battlefield V" faced a lot of criticism when it first came out for various reasons, underperformed by about one million copies and dented Electronic Art's 2018 Q4 earnings. And while "Battlefield V" is one of the series' weaker offerings, it's still a very good multiplayer game for those who like frantic, large-scale warfare with arcadey gameplay.
"Battlefield V" has several game modes, including Firestorm, a battle royale, last-man-standing mode for those looking to switch it up. Mainly, though, "Battlefield V" is all about choosing a class and blasting away on the battlefield, either from the ground as a machine gunner or in the sky from a World War II-era bomber.
49. Project Zomboid
Developer: The Indie Stone
Publisher: The Indie Stone
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux
Genre: Survival
Type of multiplayer: Cooperative
Price: $14.99
Bottom Line: Project Zomboid
"Project Zomboid" is the most realistic end-of-days zombie apocalypse game available on the market. There's no story. You play as a survivor who is just trying to survive for as long as possible in a world crawling with zombies.
This game is unique in two big ways. The game is played via an isometric camera angle, but you can only see enemies within your cone of vision. And there's an emphasis on finding safe places to hide and boarding up a house like in "Night of the Living Dead."
The survivor needs food and water, and must also manage their fear meters. One bite from a zombie could mean a slow, agonizing death (and undeath).
"Project Zomboid" can be played alone or cooperatively, and there are a lot of mods to tinker with.
48. Far Cry 5
Developer: Ubisoft Toronto and Ubisoft Montreal
Publisher: Ubisoft
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PS4, Xbox One
Genre: First-person shooter
Type of multiplayer: Cooperative
Price: $59.99
Bottom Line: Far Cry 5
Awful dialogue, nonsensical stories and horribly lazy writing are the "Far Cry" franchise staples. But "Far Cry" is like a 1980s action movie: Its stupidity adds to its charm. And really, at their core, they're mindlessly fun shooters with big explosions.
"Far Cry 5" is the newest sequel in the franchise, which is about a David Koresh-type cult leader who has taken over a section of Montana with his family of heavily armed cultists.
The location is pretty, the graphics are great, and the entire story can be played cooperatively with two people.
47. Pulsar: Lost Colony
Developer: Leafy Games
Publisher: Leafy Games
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux
Genre: Space, adventure, first-person shooter
Type of multiplayer: Cooperative
Price: $24.99
Bottom Line: Pulsar: Lost Colony
You're either going to love "Pulsar: Lost Colony" or hate it, and that depends on whom you play with. Friends who can work together will flourish, while those who bicker or can't follow instructions will perish.
"Pulsar" mainly takes place on a spaceship (with bases and planets to visit) and consists of a crew of five. Each person needs to be in one of the game's five roles: pilot, captain, weapons specialist, engineer and scientist. Each role has specific tasks that will help the ship's voyage to find the Lost Colony — although the Lost Colony content isn't in the game yet.
"Pulsar" has been in development by a small team for nearly five years, but it has more than enough content for a few dozen hours of gameplay, and updates are pretty regular. However, the player base is small, so you'll want to bring some buddies.
"Pulsar" takes its inspiration from the "Star Trek" franchise, so anyone familiar with the iconic TV show will feel right at home. Find new locations, beam aboard derelict vessels, bring home new stuff, sell it, upgrade your ship (currently 12 types of ships are available), and explore the stars with your friends.
And then possibly lose them in real life when fights break out.
46. Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Wildlands
Developer: Ubisoft Paris, Ubisoft Milan
Publisher: Ubisoft
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, PS4
Genre: Third-person shooter
Type of multiplayer: Cooperative, PvP
Price: $49.99
Bottom Line: Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Wildlands
"Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Wildlands" isn't a traditional Tom Clancy game, which normally focuses on stealth. Instead, "Wildlands" is almost all action.
It has its flaws for sure. Enemies have a preternatural ability to accurately shoot at any angle, the few stealth elements are pretty bad, and the driving mechanics are laughable.
But as a multiplayer experience, it's one of the more fun games you can play.
45. Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes
Developer: Steel Crate Games
Publisher: Steel Crate Games
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Linux, Android, macOS, iOS
Genre: Puzzle
Type of multiplayer: Cooperative
Price: $14.99
Bottom Line: Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes
"Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes" is a unique multiplayer game in which one person has to unarm a ticking time bomb with help from other players, who have the bomb's manual (which can be printed out). However, the players with the manual can't see the bomb, so they need to talk it out.
It's a simple premise that can be played online or locally or even as a party game with the family. And only one person needs to own the game.
Which makes "Keep Talking" budget-friendly, too.
44. SWAT 4
Developer: Irrational Games
Publisher: Activision
Platforms: Microsoft Windows
Genre: Tactical shooter
Type of multiplayer: Cooperative
Price: $9.99
Bottom Line: SWAT 4
"SWAT 4" might be 15 years old, but it is still one of the most realistic tactical shooters ever made. And it still holds up, once you can look past the graphics.
In "SWAT 4," players take on the role of a SWAT team member and are tasked with infiltrating an area that is occupied by hostiles holding hostages. The goal is to take them down without using lethal force, so stun guns and bean bag guns are just as important as shotguns.
There are a good amount of SWAT 4 mods and you can buy the game at GOG.com. The only caveat, you'll need at least one or two other people to play with. Finding random people online is practically impossible.
43. Space Station 13
Developer: Exadv1 and various community members
Publisher: None
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Linux
Genre: Action-adventure, space
Type of multiplayer: Cooperative
Price: Free
Bottom Line: Space Station 13
"Space Station 13" is one of the most unusual games. Developed in 2003 by Exadv1, the game is now entirely community-supported and free to play.
"Space Station 13" is a 2-D, top-down role-playing game that takes place on a space station. It's somewhat difficult to describe, but everyone on the space station has a job, from doctors who need to perform heart surgery to Lovecraftian horrors sent to disrupt the game.
The game isn't pretty to look at, but there's a ton going on, and it has a diehard community that has been playing this game for 17 years with many different servers that have their own quirks and rules.
"Space Station 13" games take place in rounds, and most of them descend into chaos. It's a confusing game to get started on, but there's an entire subreddit dedicated to "Space Station 13" and gameplay stories.
If you're interested in playing, start there.
42. Dota 2
Developer: Valve
Publisher: Valve
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Linux
Genre: Multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA)
Type of multiplayer: MOBA
Price: Free
Bottom Line: Dota 2
"Dota 2" is a free to play, team-based MOBA from Valve that's one of the most popular games in the world with roughly 500,000 users playing each month.
There's a hardcore player base and an entire real-world economy behind "Dota 2"'s tradable items (which can be placed up for sale on Steam's auction house), plus a multimillion-dollar esports scene.
Those who enjoy the competitive gameplay of "Dota 2" will find it hopelessly addictive, while others will be put off by its notoriously toxic community.
41. Warframe
Developer: Digital Extremes
Publisher: Digital Extremes
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, PS4, Nintendo Switch
Genre: Action RPG
Type of multiplayer: Cooperative, PvP
Price: Free
Bottom Line: Warframe
"Warframe" is a free-to-play, third-person action role-playing game (RPG) with almost 50 million users. The shoot-em-up features an armored suit called a warframe, which the player can upgrade and tailor to their playstyle.
With nearly seven years of constant development, there's a whole lot of content here. Players can team up with up to three other people to fight against the AI or enter PvP modes that can have a total of eight players.
"Warframe" isn't a looter shooter. The player has to farm pieces of an item, along with their blueprint, and craft them together outside of combat. There's a ton to do and a lot of cosmetic items and weapons to spend money on, but only if you want to. If you play enough, you probably will.
40. World of Warcraft
Developer: Blizzard Entertainment
Publisher: Blizzard Entertainment
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, macOS
Genre: Massively multiplayer online role-playing (MMORPG)
Type of multiplayer: Cooperative, PvP
Price:$14.99 per month
Bottom Line: World of Warcraft
Released in 2004, "World of Warcraft" is one of the longest-lasting MMOs of all time, and was immensely popular when it first came out, and stayed that way for many years. But then people started leaving.
Faced with a declining player base, Blizzard breathed new life into their beloved MMO with some old content. In August 2019, the developer released "World of Warcraft Classic," a server option that only has content from pre-2006, before the "Burning Crusade" expansion. It worked — subscriptions increased by 223 percent after the release of "Classic."
So now players can jump into fast-paced, modern WoW, or step back in time to the slowed-down, more focused days of WoW from when it first launched.
39. Insurgency: Sandstorm
Developer: New World Interactive
Publisher: Focus Home Interactive
Platforms: Microsoft Windows
Genre: Tactical first-person shooter
Type of multiplayer: Cooperative, PvP
Price: $29.99
Bottom Line: Insurgency: Sandstorm
"Insurgency: Sandstorm" is like a multiplayer first-person shooter with up to 32 players total (two opposing teams of 16) or eight players cooperative against AI opponents.
"Sandstorm" is different than many other similar shooters out there because it places a stronger emphasis on realism. Imagine the action in "Blackhawk Down" rather than a movie like "Pearl Harbor."
The sound design is incredible, and the gameplay is rewarding. There's also a dedicated player base, which makes it simple to find a game at any time.
38. Overcooked 2
Developer: Team 17 and Ghost Town Games
Publisher: Team 17
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One macOS, Linux
Genre: Cooking, simulation, casual
Type of multiplayer: Cooperative
Price: $24.99
Bottom Line: Overcooked 2
"Overcooked 2" is a fast-paced, fun-for-all-ages cooking game in which up to four players must assemble increasingly complicated dishes.
It's cute, chaotic and improves upon the first game in several ways, with perhaps the most important update being the inclusion of an online multiplayer option.
And no matter how difficult it can get, "Overcooked 2" remains fun. Much of the joy comes from the sheer madness of it all.
37. Squad
Developer: Offworld Industries
Publisher: Offworld Industries
Platforms: Microsoft Windows
Genre: Tactical shooter, military simulation
Type of multiplayer: PvP
Price: $39.99
Bottom Line: Squad
"Squad" is a tactical shooter multiplayer game with a heavy emphasis on team interaction and coordination. "Squad" takes place in modern-day with large open maps, vehicle combat, and heart-thumping firefights between two 40-player teams.
Using voice chat in "Squad" is practically mandatory, and combat is difficult as firefights can be few and far between, and you'll often be shot without knowing where it came from.
It takes some practice, but "Squad" has a pretty welcoming player base and is one of the best tactical PvP shooters around.
36. Barotrauma
Developer: FakeFish and Undertow Games
Publisher: Daedalic Entertainment
Platforms: Microsoft Windows
Genre: Adventure, sci-fi, horror, survival
Type of multiplayer: Cooperative
Price: $29.99
Bottom Line: Barotrauma
"Barotrauma" is a 2-D cooperative indie game with horror, survival and science fiction elements.
In "Barotrauma," up to 16 people are put aboard a ramshackle submarine which is floating in the alien-infested depths of one of Jupiter's moons in the distant future. Players will need to repair leaks, fix nuclear reactors, heal others, shoot monsters and pilot the submarine toward its next destination — depending on which of the six classes you choose.
But it's not exactly serious during multiplayer, although there are role-playing servers. If "Aliens" and "Sealab 2021" had a video game baby, "Barotrauma" would be the result. The game is simultaneously serious and goofy, and it's a blast to play.
One of the more interesting aspects of the game is the traitor feature. The role of a traitor is assigned randomly at the beginning of a mission, and traitors are meant to keep their purpose secret. Traitors must search for a specific hidden item and are given further instructions when the item is found, like murdering another crew member.
"Barotrauma" is in early access but has received regular content updates and has a welcoming community.
35. Raft
Developer: Redbeet Interactive
Publisher: Axolot Games
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, macOS
Genre: Survival
Type of multiplayer: Cooperative
Price: $19.99
Bottom Line: Raft
"Raft" is a survival game set in a mysterious future where the entire world is now one giant ocean. It's like "Waterworld" only without a merman Kevin Costner and pirates.
In "Raft," you and your friends (as many as the host's machine and internet can handle) start out on a few floating planks, gradually building it into a huge raft with trees, gardens and steam engines. The main enemy in "Raft" is a shark, which will attack the raft and its players.
"Raft" can be a very calm and soothing game, which is great for stressful times. The game is currently in early access on Steam, and only the first chapter in the story mode is available, but there is a lot of stuff to explore and a lot of things to build.
The game has been a Steam best seller for quite some time, and the developers release regular updates and content.
34. Apex Legends
Developer: Respawn Entertainment
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PS4, Xbox One
Genre: Battle royale, first-person shooter
Type of multiplayer: PvP
Price: Free
Bottom Line: Apex Legends
"Apex Legends" is a free-to-play battle royale game from Respawn Entertainment, the developers behind the acclaimed "Titanfall" series.
"Apex Legends" features games of 60 players broken up into 20 three-person teams, with each person on a team selecting from 13 playable characters (as of the game's fifth season). There's a unique ping system that allows a squad to interact without needing voice chat, which is a welcome feature more games should use.
The gunplay is fast and fluid, and the mechanics are extremely polished. As a battle royale game, "Apex Legends" is one of the best on the market. Plus, it's free.
33. Monster Hunter: World
Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows
Genre: Action-adventure RPG
Type of multiplayer: Cooperative
Price: $29.99
Bottom Line: Monster Hunter World
The entire goal of "Monster Hunter World" is tracking down giant monsters, figuring out how to defeat them, killing them, and then hacking them to bits for material to make better loot. For those that love this sort of thing, it's an addictive experience.
With the release of the "Iceborne" expansion, there are over 50 huge beasts to slay and more loot to craft than most players will ever get around to.
Up to four players at a time can play an instance in "Monster Hunter World," and there are hundreds of thousands of active monthly users playing around the world.
32. Payday 2
Developer: Overkill
Publisher: Starbreeze Publishing AB
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Linux, Xbox 360, PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Genre: First-person shooter
Type of multiplayer: Cooperative
Price: $9.99 (base game)
Bottom Line: Payday 2
The players are the bad guys in "Payday 2," a hugely popular game that was released in 2013 and still attracts thousands and thousands of players each month on PC.
"Payday 2" is about completing heists, from bank robberies to rigging an election. Missions can be done in stealth, but once the players are found out, enemy police and SWAT units invade the area in increasing waves of difficulty.
Since its release, "Payday 2" has taken a haul of $10 million in revenue as of 2020.
31. Sea of Thieves
Developer: Rare
Publisher: Microsoft Studios
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Xbox One
Genre: Action-Adventure
Type of multiplayer: Cooperative, PvP
Price: $39.99, free with Xbox Games Pass
Bottom Line: Sea of Thieves
Gather your fellow crew and sail the seas in "Sea of Thieves," a pirate adventure game that draws inspiration from "Pirates of the Carribean."
When "Sea of Thieves" launched in 2018, it was met with lukewarm reviews citing a lack of content. Since then, though, the sandbox-style game has received some much-needed updates, including quest lines and new dangerous locations. Expect more updates in the future. "Sea of Thieves" is Microsoft's most successful new IP and has attracted 10 million players since its release.
The biggest ship on "Sea of Thieves" can hold four people. There's matchmaking, but this game practically requires friends to really shine.
30. Tom Clancy's The Division 2
Developer: Massive Entertainment
Publisher: Ubisoft
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PS4, Xbox One, Google Stadia
Genre: Third-person shooter, action role-playing MMO
Type of multiplayer: Cooperative, PvP
Price: $29.99 (standard edition)
Bottom Line: Tom Clancy's The Division 2
"The Division 2" is a looter-shooter done right. "The Division" is a third-person perspective action MMO with cover-based mechanics set in a post-apocalyptic Washington, D.C. There are AI villains like marauders to kill everywhere with PvP elements restricted to 12-player Dark Zone instances.
After several years of content updates, "The Division" now offers a ton of content, like new eight-player raids, 52 bosses and a whole bunch of weapons and skills to find and unlock.
29. Fortnite
Developer: Epic Games
Publisher: Epic Games, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, macOS, Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One, iOS, Android
Genre: Battle royale
Type of multiplayer: PvP, cooperative
Price: Free for the battle royale version, $39.99 for the cooperative PvE campaign
Bottom Line: Fortnite
"Fortnite" is an incomprehensibly successful game. Released in 2017, it made an estimated $2.4 billion by 2018.
The free-to-play battle royale is the game to beat in its space, and it's available on nearly every platform imaginable.
The game's main draw is a battle royale, although there is a player-versus-enemy campaign that can be had for $39.99.
28. Playerunknown's Battlegrounds
Developer: PUBG Corporation
Publisher: PUBG Corporation, Microsoft Studios, Tencent Games
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PS4, Xbox One, Android, iOs, Google Stadia
Genre: Battle royale
Type of multiplayer: PvP
Price: $29.99 for consoles and PC, free on mobile
Bottom Line: Playerunknown's Battlegrounds
This was spawned out of a player-made mod for "ARMA 3."
"Playerunknown's Battlegrounds," better known as PUBG, is almost singlehandedly responsible for the battle royale video game craze of the late 2010s. Unlike "Fortnite," PUBG leans into a more realistic approach to the genre, bordering on tactical shooter.
While the game now only has a fraction of its all-time high player peak of 3.24 million concurrent users on Steam, several hundred thousand people can be found playing it on any given day.
27. Hell Let Loose
Developer: Blackmatter
Publisher: Team 17
Platforms: Microsoft Windows
Genre: First-person shooter
Type of multiplayer: PvP
Price: $29.99
Bottom Line: Hell Let Loose
"Hell Let Loose" is a large-scale multiplayer with up to 100 simultaneous players set in World War II. It's kind of like a cross between the "ARMA" and "Battlefield" series, but "Hell Let Loose" leans much more into military realism.
Players need to communicate and coordinate with their squads and team to push the enemy back and not wander into the rumbling path of a Panzer tank. If "Battlefield V" felt too arcadey, "Hell Let Loose" is a wonderful alternative.
"Hell Let Loose" began as a Kickstarter campaign in 2017 and raised about $220,000, which attracted publisher Team 17 to pick up the game for further financing. It's still in early access but completely playable, with regular content updates adding to a sizable amount of available content.
26. Rocket League
Developer: Psyonix
Publisher: Psyonix
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, macOS, Linux
Genre: Racing, sports
Type of multiplayer: PvP
Price: $19.99
Bottom Line: 'Rocket League'
Bottom Line: Rocket League
"Rocket League" was practically an overnight success when it was released in the summer of 2015 on Windows and PS4.
In "Rocket League," two teams of four players zip and rocket around an enclosed stadium while trying to hit the ball into the opposing team's goal.
Despite being five years old, the game hit its all-time peak of concurrent players in March 2020, with nearly 500,000 people playing across all platforms.
25. Dead by Daylight
Developer: Behaviour Interactive
Publisher: Behaviour Interactive
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Android, iOS
Genre: Survival horror
Type of multiplayer: Cooperative, PvP
Price: $19.99
Bottom Line: Dead by Daylight
"Dead by Daylight'' is a five-player asymmetrical, entirely multiplayer game where one player controls a killer and four survivors try to escape the level. The game has been immensely popular and sold five million copies as of 2019, which has allowed it to license characters from horror movies like "Halloween," "Saw" and "Scream."
Each killer has their own special ability to help slow down and kill the survivors, and survivors each have an ability to aid their escape from the killer's level. To escape, survivors can't attack the killer directly, and instead must turn on five generators.
"Dead by Daylight" can be a tense multiplayer experience, and its healthy player base means you'll never be left in the dark when looking for a game. The game has been out for a long while, and there are many seasoned players. This means that some players may find themselves on a team that blitzes through the level, leading to a frustratingly easy experience that doesn't match the mood.
24. Terraria
Developer: Re-Logic
Publisher: 505 Games
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PS3, PS4, XBox 360, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Wii U, Linux, macOS, iOS, Android, Nintendo 3DS, Playstation Vita
Genre: Crafting, survival, platformer
Type of multiplayer: Cooperative, PvP
Price: $4.99 (mobile), $9.99 (PC), $19.99 (console)
Bottom Line: Terraria
"Terraria" is a critically acclaimed indie game that has sold over 30.3 million units since 2011. The 2-D platformer is all about discovering procedurally generated worlds and crafting anything and everything, from wooden swords to massive castles.
There are bosses to fight and other people, too, if you choose to join or create a PvP server. "Terraria" supports up to seven people playing at the same time, and there's expansive modding security to keep things fresh.
23. Dying Light
Developer: Techland
Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and Techland Publishing
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Linux, macOS, PS4, Xbox One
Genre: Survival horror, first-person shooter, action platformer
Type of multiplayer: Cooperative
Price: $19.99 (console) $39.99 (Steam)
Bottom Line: Dying Light
"Dying Light" is a popular survival horror first-person shooter zombie game with parkour.
Up to four players can run, jump, climb and shoot through the game's lengthy main story, which takes place in a post-apocalyptic city in Turkey. Multiplayer mode also features invasions, wherein an invading player takes on the role of a monster and attempts to kill the human characters.
"Dying Light" has been out since 2016 and still receives content updates to this day, making it a great value for anyone who likes to stick with games for a long while.
22. Call of Duty: Warzone
Developer: Infinity Ward and Raven Software
Publisher: Activision
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PS4, Xbox One
Genre: Battle royale
Type of multiplayer: Cooperative and competitive
Price: Free
Bottom Line: Call of Duty: Warzone
"Call of Duty: Warzone" is a free-to-play battle royale game that pits up to 150 players against one another in a fight to the death.
"Warzone" is entirely multiplayer and can be played solo or as part of a team. Unlike other battle royale games, which only give a player one life, "Warzone" lets defeated players be transported to a prison and then fight for who gets to respawn. There are also other ways to revive teammates.
"Warzone" has an insanely high player base with over 50 million players. Plus it's free, with triple-A game quality graphics and mechanics.
21. Divinity: Original Sin 2
Developer: Larian Studios
Publisher: Bandai Namco Entertainment
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Playstation 4, Xbox One, macOS, Nintendo Switch
Genre: Turn-based RPG
Type of multiplayer: Cooperative
Price: $19.99 (physical disc on PS4 and Xbox One), $49.99 (Nintendo Switch), $44.99 (PC)
Bottom Line: Divinity Original Sin 2
"Divinity: Original Sin 2" is a role-playing game with turn-based combat that can be played with up to four people. There's a rather large story which takes around 30 hours to play through and 14 highly flexible classes to choose from.
As an RPG, DOS2 leans toward the slower side of cooperative multiplayer gaming, since there's a good amount of reading and exploring to be done. Combat is turn-based, so players need to wait their turn. But it can be brutal, too, so a good group will want to plan out their attack during tough encounters.
There is a game master (GM) mode, which offers a "Dungeons and Dragons"-esque experience, with one person creating an entire campaign and controlling nearly every aspect of the game itself. Up to five players can play at once in GM mode, including the GM.
DOS2 was hugely successful for Belgian-based Larian Studios. The game generated $85 million in revenue when it was released in 2017.
20. Empyrion — Galactic Survival
Developer: Eleon Game Studios
Publisher: Eleon Game Studios
Platforms: Microsoft Windows
Genre: Space, crafting, survival
Type of multiplayer: Cooperative, PvP
Price: $19.99
Bottom Line: Empyrion — Galactic Survival
"Empyrion — Galactic Survival" takes place on a planet in a solar system with a number of other planets, all of which can be traveled to. But to do so, players need to craft increasingly complex technology, level up their skill trees and fight off hostile fauna and opposing factions.
The real draw of "Empyrion" is building ships and bases, while managing what resources are available on the occupied planet. If resources run out, it becomes necessary to travel to the next planet for more minerals and metals.
The building feature is surprisingly complex, and there's enough decoration options to keep anyone remotely interested in building occupied for a very long time.
The game can be played privately with friends or on a larger server with other players and player factions that are often at war with one another. Build a ship, raid their base, load up, and get back home. "Empyrion" is a ton of fun and will keep creative types thoroughly entertained.
The game is still in an early access state but has a dedicated developer and a hardcore community, so it won't be abandoned anytime in the near feature.
19. The Forest
Developer: Endnight Games
Publisher: Endnight Games
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Playstation 4
Genre: Survival, crafting, horror
Type of multiplayer: Cooperative, player vs. environment (PvE)
Price: $19.99
Bottom Line: The Forest
"The Forest" is a cooperative survival game where up to four players fight to survive on a mysterious island inhabited by cannibalistic troglodytes.
You're out-muscled by the enemy, so you'll need to craft a base and make it cannibal-proof by outfitting it with traps. To survive, you'll need to craft crude armor and weapons while managing hunger and thirst levels.
"The Forest" is a terrifying experience when night falls as the monsters skitter about and stalk you in the dark. Plus, there's a full story to experience.
18. Helldivers
Developer: Arrowhead Game Studios
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Playstation 4, Playstation 3, Playstation Vita
Genre: Shoot 'em up
Type of multiplayer: Cooperative
Price: $19.99
Bottom Line: Helldivers
If "Starship Troopers" were a video game, it would be "Helldivers."
"Helldivers" is a top-down four-player cooperative shooter that's about spreading liberty to alien worlds by destroying its otherworldly inhabitants. The combat is chaotic and fun, with its always-on friendly fire and the accidental murder of your friends being one of the game's best selling points.
"Helldivers" has been on the market since 2015, so the player base isn't as thriving as it used to be. However, there are still around 200 people playing on Steam at any given time.
And it's a blast to play with friends.
17. Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege
Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
Publisher: Ubisoft
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PS4, Xbox One
Genre: Tactical first-person shooter
Type of multiplayer: PvP, cooperative
Price: $19.99 (standard edition)
Bottom Line: Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege
"Rainbow Six Siege" is one of the most successful competitive shooters of the past five years. While there are cooperative PvE modes in "Rainbow Six Siege," the real reason why this game has attracted over 55 million registered players (and driven Ubisoft's $520 million in microtransaction sales in 2019 ) is its highly competitive PvP modes.
In its PvP modes, "Siege" puts two teams of five players against one another. Each player selects from a number of characters, called operators, each with their own different abilities and weapons. The reason for this game's success is just how insanely complex and difficult the gameplay can be, which gave rise to a very dedicated fan base.
The pricing for "Siege" is a little strange, though. The base game is $20 and only comes with the original operators. Season passes and individual operators are available to purchase while the "Ultimate Edition," which includes all past operators, costs a whopping $100.
16. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
Developer: Valve, Hidden Path Entertainment
Publisher: Valve
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, macOS, PS3, Xbox 360, Linux
Genre: First-person shooter, battle royale
Type of multiplayer: PvP
Price: Free
Bottom Line: Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
"Counter-Strike: Global Offensive," better known as CS:GO, has been around since 2012. It has a fanatically hardcore (and sometimes toxic) player base and went free-to-play in 2018, with Valve switching to a cosmetics-based microtransaction model for revenue.
Regular updates have kept this game alive and well, and it's one of the most popular games on Steam, bringing in an estimated $414 million in revenue in 2018.
CS:GO offers fluid and addictive gameplay that can run on virtually any machine. Just beware that the people who have been playing CS:GO likely have been playing it for eight years.
15. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Developer: Nintendo EAD
Publisher: Nintendo
Platforms: Nintendo Switch
Genre: Racing
Type of multiplayer: PvP
Price: $59.99
Bottom Line: 'Mario Kart 8 Deluxe'
"Mario Kart 8 Deluxe" is an enhanced and updated port of the regular "Mario Kart 8" for the Wii U. Released in 2017 to universal acclaim, it became the Nintendo Switch's best-selling game of all time with 24.77 million copies sold.
Like its predecessors, "Mario Kart 8 Deluxe" pits the player against 11 other Mario-themed kart racers. Everything you loved about the first "Mario Kart" can be had here: amazing tracks, tight controls, awesome music, and endless replayability thanks to its online multiplayer modes.
14. Minecraft
Developer: Mojang
Publisher: Mojang, Microsoft Studios
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, Nintendo Switch PS4, PS3, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Fire OS, Raspberry Pi, Playstation Vita, Wii U, iOs, Android
Genre: Crafting, sandbox, survival
Type of multiplayer: Cooperative, PvP
Price: $26.99 (Microsoft Windows)
Bottom Line: 'Minecraft'
The blocky, build-y world of "Minecraft" has been enchanting players young and old since its release in 2009, with over 176 million copies sold across a plethora of different platforms since it came out.
"Minecraft" is a cultural phenomenon across the world. In 2020, Reporters Without Borders created the Uncensored Library, an actual library that anyone can visit in-game, which is stuffed with free, uncensored text to be read by those in even the most oppressive countries. "Minecraft" has transcended being just a game.
But for those who just want to play it as a game, "Minecraft" delivers. When it comes to building anything from cottages to cities, your imagination is the limit, and there are innumerable mods to switch up the gameplay whenever you want.
"Minecraft" is estimated to be the best-selling video game of all time.
13. Grand Theft Auto V Online
Developer: Rockstar Games
Publisher: Rockstar Games
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows
Genre: Action
Type of multiplayer: Cooperative, PvP
Price: $29.99
Bottom Line: Grand Theft Auto V Online
Nearly seven years old and still going strong, "Grand Theft Auto V" is one of the most chaotically fun multiplayer experiences available. It's still so successful that it generated $595 million in digital revenue throughout 2019, an exorbitant amount of money driven by the game's ridiculous amount of microtransactions.
But even those who don't want to spend real money on costumes and digital high-rise apartments can have a fun time in GTA Online. There are banks to rob, cars to steal, people to kill and buildings to bomb in GTA Online, but it's much better with friends — especially its two-to-four-player "Heists," which are six multipart, story-driven missions that are simply awesome.
Just know that hackers will be part of the gaming experience at one point or another.
12. ARMA 3
Developer: Bohemia Interactive
Publisher: Bohemia Interactive
Platforms: Microsoft Windows
Genre: Military simulation
Type of multiplayer: Cooperative, PvP
Price: $29.99
Bottom Line: ARMA 3
"ARMA 3" is pretty much the be-all, end-all of military simulators. It is as accurate as a game can be for a milsim and still remain fun — although the engine required for such a massively complex game is janky and not very user-friendly.
It's also endlessly moddable and has a very hardcore userbase of people from all over the world who play on specialized servers. It takes some getting used to, but mastering "ARMA 3" even just a little bit is rewarding for those who love this type of game.
There's nothing like taking off in a jet, shooting down an enemy, and then successfully landing on an aircraft carrier.
11. Rust
Developer: Facepunch Studios
Publisher: Facepunch Studios
Platforms: macOS, Microsoft Windows
Genre: Survival
Type of multiplayer: Cooperative, PvP
Price: $39.99
Bottom Line: Rust
"Rust" is a hardcore survival game that plunks you down in a world of up to 400 other players (most of whom will be hostile), gives you a rock, and forces you to survive.
Make your base, have it be destroyed, make better and better weapons, fight other players, make friends, and die over and over again. "Rust" is a love-it-or-hate-it game.
It's also been out for seven years and has over 50,000 people playing it at any given time and has made over $142 million as of 2019. That influx of cash has taken it far, and the game has a ton of new content than when it was first released as an early access game in December 2013.
10. Borderlands 3
Developer: Gearbox
Publisher: 2K Games
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, macOS, PS4, Xbox One, Stadia
Genre: First-person shooter shooter
Type of multiplayer: Cooperative
Price: $59.99
Bottom Line: Borderlands 3
Mix stupid humor, one billion guns, a unique art style and fast-paced looter-shooter gameplay and you get "Borderlands 3."
The "Borderlands" franchise has had a loyal following since the first game came out in 2009, and "Borderlands 3" sold five million copies within five days of its release.
It's popular for a reason. "Borderlands 3" has addictive gameplay with an entertaining story and sidequests that are a hell of a lot of fun with friends.
9. Halo: The Master Chief Collection
Developer: 343 Industries
Publisher: Xbox Game Studios
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Xbox One
Genre: First-person shooter
Type of multiplayer: Cooperative, PvP
Price: $39.99
Bottom Line: Halo: The Master Chief Collection
The "Halo" series is one of the most beloved and best-selling series of all time. Case in point: When "Halo 3" came out in 2007, film industry executives blamed a 27 percent drop in box-office ticket sales that October on the release of the video game, which released the same month. As of 2015, the entire Halo franchise sold 65 million units worldwide and made well over $5 billion.
"Halo: The Master Chief Collection" consists of "Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary," "Halo 2 Anniversary," "Halo 3," "Halo 3: ODST," "Halo: Reach" and "Halo 4," all of which were previously only available on Xbox consoles. The collection costs $40, although each game will unlock at specific times throughout 2020.
As for the game itself, it's "Halo." If you played these when you were younger, now you can play them on PC with anyone from around the world.
8. Overwatch
Developer: Blizzard Entertainment
Publisher: Blizzard Entertainment
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Genre: First-person shooter
Type of multiplayer: PvP
Price: $39.99
Bottom Line: Overwatch
"Overwatch" is a first-person hero shooter that reached 50 million players in 2019, three years after its 2016 release date. While the game has been out for quite some time, it's still easy to pick up (although hard to master) and offers rewarding team-based mechanics paired with top-notch gameplay.
In "Overwatch," you'll take control of one of 32 heroes in a variety of game modes which typically last around 10 or 15 minutes (double that once you're good enough for competitive games). Each hero has a class role (tank, damage dealer, support), and each has their own distinct weapon and special ability.
There's a reason why this game is still going strong after so many years: It's really good.
7. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
Developer: Infinity Ward
Publisher: Activision
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PS4, Xbox One
Genre: First-person shooter
Type of multiplayer: PvP
Price: $59.99
Bottom Line: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
The "Call of Duty" series dates back to 2003 and has generated over $15 billion in sales as of 2016. That number has increased — 2019's "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare" sold $1 billion worth of units worldwide within 50 days of its release, making it the most successful entry of the franchise.
This game won the 2019 Game Critics Awards for Best Online Multiplayer and is one of the most popular multiplayer games in the world.
Those who like fast-paced competitive shooters should love this iteration.
6. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Developer: Bandai Namco Studios and Sora Ltd.
Publisher: Nintendo
Platforms: Nintendo Switch
Genre: Fighting
Type of multiplayer: PvP
Price: $59.99
Bottom Line: Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
"Super Smash Bros. Ultimate" became the best-selling fighting game of all time in late 2019, taking the crown from "Street Fighter II," which had held that title since 1991.
Nintendo's signature fighting game is on course to have 88 characters in its roster to go along with its multiple awards, including the 2018 Game Critics Awards for Best Fighting Game and 22nd Annual D.I.C.E. Awards for Fighting Game of the Year.
It's pretty much a must-buy if you own a Nintendo Switch and enjoy fighting games.
5. Don't Starve Together
Developer: Klei Entertainment
Publisher: Klei Entertainment
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, PS4 macOS, Linux
Genre: Survival
Type of multiplayer: Cooperative
Price: $14.99
Bottom Line: Don't Starve Together
"Don't Starve Together" is the multiplayer-focused sequel to Klei Entertainment's mega-hit "Don't Starve." In "Don't Starve Together," you'll take control of a cute-looking character and brave him or her against a brutal and eerie randomly generated world.
Despite its cute-but-creepy looks, "Don't Starve Together" is a tough survival game. Players need to manage their hunger and sanity meters and survive the seasons — each with their unique challenges — while progressing through a mysterious story.
It's challenging, but it also has universal appeal, which makes it a favorite among casual and hardcore gamers.
4. Destiny 2
Developer: Bungie
Publisher: Bungie
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows
Genre(s): First-person shooter
Type of multiplayer: Cooperative, PvP
Price: Free(base game)
Bottom Line: Destiny 2
After a ton of content updates and the new option to play for free, "Destiny 2" is one of the most popular multiplayer games out there. In "Destiny 2," players can team up for long, difficult raids, or go lone wolf in the game's PvE and PvP areas.
At its core, "Destiny 2" is all about shooting bigger and bigger enemies, leveling up, and the never-ending quest for better loot. The gunplay is snappy, the mechanics are sharp, and the graphics are fantastic.
Plus, the base game is free (the two expansions cost $25 to $35 each), making it a great game to try out with friends, since no one has to worry about putting down money on a game they end up not liking.
3. Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Developer: Nintendo EPD
Publisher: Nintendo
Platforms: Nintendo Switch
Genre: Social simulation, farming
Type of multiplayer: Cooperative
Price: $59.99
Bottom Line: Animal Crossing: New Horizons
"Animal Crossing: New Horizons" exploded in popularity as soon as it was released in March 2020 and sold over 13.41 million copies within its first six weeks. Which is no surprise. Players found a place of peace and quiet in the cute and absorbing world of "New Horizons."
Despite its child-like graphics, the Nintendo Switch exclusive has a player base of people of all ages. Some celebrities like it, too. Elijah Woods visited one woman's farm and tough-guy actor Danny Trejo asked if anyone wanted his dodo code on Twitter.
It's always good to have somewhere peaceful to escape.
2. Red Dead Redemption 2
Developer: Rockstar Games
Publisher: Rockstar Games
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, Stadia
Genre: Third-person action-adventure
Type of multiplayer: Cooperative, PvP
Price: $59.99
Bottom Line: Red Dead Redemption 2
Rockstar's mega-hit from 2018 is still one of the best multiplayer games you can play right now.
Make your own cowboy or cowgirl and choose to be a murderous outlaw or a hero in "Red Dead Redemption 2"'s online mode, which has various cooperative and PvP modes. The game receives seasonal "Outlaw Pass" updates with new content, with the last pass adding the moonshiner profession.
There is a good amount of online story missions to do with friends, although those missions are limited to only four players. However, the biggest posse can hold seven people at a time. Bounties, especially epic bounties, are a ton of fun, as is the emergent gameplay when you and your friends stumble upon other strangers.
While RDR2 does have its fair share of hackers and cheaters on PC, consoles fare better in this regard. Although it's still not as bad as "Grand Theft Auto V," which is rampant with cheaters.
RDR2 also wasn't as successful as GTAV, which has sold 120 million copies worldwide since its release in 2013 and has made over $6 billion (as of 2018). RDR2, in comparison, has "only" sold 29 million copies since 2018.
Few multiplayer games give an experience like RDR2, where you can have just as good time fishing and hunting gators as you could terrorizing a town.
1. Deep Rock Galactic
Developer: Ghost Ship Games
Publisher: Coffee Stain Studios
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Xbox One
Genre: First-person shooter
Type of multiplayer: Cooperative, PvE
Price: $29.99
Bottom Line: Deep Rock Galactic
Play as miner dwarves with drinking problems in "Deep Rock Galactic," a cooperative first-person shooter that has received almost universal acclaim since its early access release in early 2018 (the game hit 1.0 on May 13, 2020).
In DRG, players take on a specialized role in a team of dwarves who are sent on deep space mining expeditions. There are four roles: gunner, miner, engineer and driller. Each is necessary when it comes to beating the game's hardest missions, although the game does scale difficulty with how many players are in the game.
Single-player is an option, but this game is meant to be played with three other people. Each role is perfectly balanced. No matter which role you choose, your contribution to the mission feels just as significant as everyone else's.
Players will be attacked by waves of monstrous bugs, leading to frantic encounters and even more frantic escapes when goals are complete and the dwarves need to backtrack to the escape pod within a shrinking time window. There's enough unlockable content to keep even the most dedicated miner occupied for hundreds of hours.